Oral History Interview with John E. Underwood, February 8, 2007

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an oral interview with John E. Underwood. Underwood grew up on a farm in Georgia and volunteered for service in the US Navy when he was 15 years old in 1941. His mother signed for him and then he went to boot camp in Virginia. Upon completing training, Underwood was assigned VF-42 aboard the USS Yorktown (CV-5) and assisted the airplane mechanics. Underwood discusses being aboard the Yorktown in May, 1942, during the Battle ofthe Coral Sea and witnessing the USS Lexington (CV-2) sink. Underwood also discusses making repairs in time to participate in the Battle of Midway in June, 1942. Underwood discusses the attack on the Yorktown that disabled the ship, and he describes abandoning her, but not before rescuing the contents of his locker, which included his watch, ring and poker winnings. He was soon rescued by a destroyer crewman. Once he returned to Hawaii, he stayed on in the office of the Commander, Air Force Pacific Fleet for the duration of the war and served as a driver for Admiral Forrest Sherman at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, until he was transferred to Washington, DC. Underwood discusses getting out of the Navy and his subsequent career as an airline pilot